A look at what’s happening around the majors on Tuesday:
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MACHADO UPDATE
Manny Machado was out of the lineup a day after spraining his left ankle, but Padres acting manager Ryan Flaherty is optimistic the All-Star third baseman won’t need to go on the injured list.
“He’s got some purple and blue in there but overall he’s moving around pretty good and feels good,” Flaherty said Monday.
Machado, who’s having an MVP-caliber season, was injured Sunday in Colorado while trying to beat out a grounder. His cleats slipped across the top of first base and he fell to the ground.
Machado is batting .328 with 12 homers and 46 RBIs. He has largely carried the Padres’ offense in the absence of All-Star shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr., who remains out while rehabbing his surgically repaired left wrist.
1998 YANKEES RETURN — IN NAME ONLY
Two 23-year-old shortstops named after stars on the 1990s New York Yankees championship teams came up to the major leagues this week.
Boston recalled Jeter Downs from Triple-A Worcester and his first name comes from Yankees Hall of Fame shortstop Derek Jeter. Downs hit .180 with one homer and 11 RBIs at Triple-A this year.
Pittsburgh recalled Oneil Cruz from Indianapolis — he’s named for Yankees right fielder Paul O’Neill. Cruz made his big league debut on the final weekend of last season, going 3 for 9 with a home run in two games against Cincinnati. He is batting .232 this season with nine homers, 35 RBIs and 11 steals at Triple-A.
Downs and Cruz were both born in 1998, the year the Yankees swept San Diego for the first of their three straight titles.
SUBSTITUTE ACE
With Walker Buehler likely sidelined until at least September with a flexor strain and also recovering from surgery to remove bone…